Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a serious, notifiable disease. It is mainly seen in cattle but is increasingly affecting camelids (alpacas, llamas, guanacos and vicunas) in the UK. The number of herds currently affected is small but significant and the British Alpaca Society (BAS), in conjunction with the British Llama Society, British Camelids Ltd and the British Veterinary Camelid Society, is making strenuous efforts to inform camelid owners about the disease and how they may reduce the risks to their own and other herds.
As part of this ongoing effort, the BAS has organised 14 meetings at venues in different parts of England, Wales and Scotland at which renowned camelid vet, Dr Gina Bromage, MA, Vet MB, DVM, MRCVS, will give the veterinary perspective on the facts about the disease. She will also discuss the symptoms that may be evident and the precautions that owners can take to reduce the risk of infection within their herd. The presentation will also include actions to be taken if TB is suspected or confirmed within a herd and the tests that are available. Owners will be free to ask questions to clarify points raised.
Animal Health and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency are supporting this initiative.
The meetings are free to all camelid owners. They will take place between Thursday 14 January and Monday 1 March at locations from the south west of England to Scotland and from Wales to East Anglia. This is a unique opportunity for camelid owners to learn about the disease and understand how they can be on the lookout for symptoms and take the necessary precautions to keep their herd disease-free.
Details of the dates, venues and times are given below. It would be helpful if you could inform the BAS of the meeting you plan to attend by e-mailing secretary@bas-uk.com Details are also available on the BAS website (www.bas-uk.com) which includes further information regarding bTB in camelids.
Dates and locations are:
Thursday 14 January – Holiday Inn, Bristol – 19.30
Saturday 16 January – Best Western Crown Hotel, Lyndhurst, Southampton – 19.30
Saturday 23 January – Wetherby Town Hall – 14.00
Monday 8 February – The Marriott Hotel, Swansea – 19.30
Saturday 13 February – Best Western Reigate Manor Hotel – 12.00
Saturday 13 February – Premier Inn, Daventry – 19.30
Sunday 14 February – The Cambridge Belfry – 13.00
Sunday 14 February – School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonnington, Nottingham – 19.30
Monday 15 February – Premier Inn Cannock South – 19.30
Saturday 20 February – Jury’s Inn, Exeter – 19.30
Sunday 21 February – Westberry Hotel, Bodmin – 14.30
Saturday 27 February – The Best Western Cumbria Park Hotel – 19.30
Saturday 28 February – Premier Inn, Glasgow Airport – 19.30
Monday 1 March – Premier Inn Preston East – 19.30
On Saturday 13 March, James Barnett, a veterinary investigation officer with the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Truro, will be speaking on "The VLA, Disease Surveillance and Camelids" at the National Beekeeping Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2LG. This talk will follow the Annual General Meetings of the British Alpaca Society and the British Llama Society. It is expected to begin around 14.00 and is open to non-members.
